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i i @eine tatrs atrat @frn W'ILLARD M. FULLER, 0 F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.Letters Patent o. 72,626, dated December 24, 1867.

IMPROVE-ID AMALGAMATOB. POR -ORS OF GOLD AND SILVER.` i

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLARD M. FULLER, of the city 'of Chicago, in thecount-y of Cook, and State ofAIllinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Amalgamators, or Gold and Silver-separators; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification, in which l Figure 1 is aside view, representing the cylinder in glass, and

Figure 2 a vertical section. I

Like letters refer to the same parts in both figures.

The nature of my invention consists in the application of hydrostaticpressure to force the pulverized or prepared quartz or other substancescontaining gold or silver through a mercury-bath; in injecting suchsubstances into the amalgamator from the bottom; in providing thecylinder with a series of conical plates; in a novel cut-oft' or stop;and in the several combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed asneW.

To enable others skilled 'in the art to make and use my improvedamalgamator or separator, I will describe its construction andoperation.

The cylinder A is made of copper, and spheroidall in form; but I do notlimit myself to material or form. Inside of this cylinder I insert, fromthe top the shaft E, which passes through the Collard, which collar isprovided with a jacket, J', or cap, which is screwed down on to thecollar, so as to secure the packing K in place. This shaft is alsoprovided with a collar, I-I, and setscrew, by means of which thedistance between G and O is regulated or adjusted. On the outer endthere is also provided a pulley or belt-wheel, I, by which the shaft ismade to rotate. The revolutions of the shaft can be produced by anyvsuitable or well-known means. Inside of i the cylinder A, the shaft isprovided with two or more (usually six) conical plates. The plates F arelarger in diameter than plates G, and are provided near the shaft withholes N. The plates G are inverted as shown, and are without holes. Thelower one, G', is attached to the end of the shaft, and made to t themouth O of pipev C. The cylinder or tub B may be made in any convenientform, and in use should be located somewhat higher than A, at its top,as shown. This tub is connected with the cylinder A by the pipe C, whichpasses down below the cylinder A, which cylinder it enters at thebottom. The discharge-pipe D is attached to the cylinder A near the top,and turned and ,carried down the required distance, as explainedhereinafter. This pipe D, at its highest point, is provided with a shorttube or cock, L, which is provided with a cut-od` or stop, and with abowl, M, at its top. This bowl maybe covered with a cap or not, asdesired. The lower end of the pipe D is also provided with a stop, (notshown.) The desired amount of mercury is placed in the cylinder A, and,when not in operation, a portion of it will stand intube C.

In operation, the pulverized material, which has been previouslysuitably prepared, is placed in the tub B, mixed with water. The stop atthe lower end of pipe D is closed, and the pipe dlled with water throughthe short pipe L, which will also till the space above the mercury inthe cylinder A. When the lower end of the pipe D is opened, the iow ofwater through this pipe, acting as a siphon,tendsto create a vacuum inthe top of ,cylinder A containing the mercury, which causes a pressureupon the material in tub B, and forces itdown through pipe C, and intothe cylinder at O. The pulverized material is so finely comminuted, thatit will carry freely in water, which rises through the mercury and fillsthe space above, so that the pipe will continue to act as e long asthere isanything in the tub. Its operation can at any time be stopped byturning the stop at the lower end 'of pipe D, or by turning the screw incollar II, so as to let cone G down on to the mouth O of pipe C, whichlatter mode will prevent a flow of mercury into pipe C; but when it isdesired to stop for any length of time, the other mode is preferable, asthe return flow of the mercury clears out the pipe C, and drives itscontents back into the tub.. The length of the pipe D will correspondwith the height ofthe column of mercury, as a column of mercurytwenty-eight inches in height will require a fall ot' thirty-two feetin'pipe D to insure its operation, and the wider the departure fromthese points, the more rapid will be the operation; much less than thisratio will not operate. When the prepared material is passing through,it passes through mercury until it reaches G, against which it impinges,and by which it is spread. 'Passing off from this, it again passesthrough solid mercury till it comes in contact with F,- hy which it isreturned to the shaft, and passes through the holes N, repeating theoperation until it passes out of the mercury, and iscarried off. This,with the rotations of the 2i l u shaft and plates, brings all of themercury into use, and the plates F and G 'being of copper, an amalgamwill bc formed on them which will contain nearly all of the preciousmetals. The gold is separated from the mercury in any of the usualmodes.

It will be seen from the operation that very much machinery is dispensedwith in this amalgamator, as there are no pumps, screws, plungers, orthc expensive devices required to force the material to the bottom ofthe mercury-bath, or insu-re its operation, as it moves with a steadyand constant force, which will continue as long as the material is fed,thus making an amalgamator which is simple in its construction, olicientand inexpensive in operation.

l Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

`1. The application of a Siphon to an amalgamater for producing acontinuous currert through the mercury,V

substantially as specified. p

2. The siphon or pipe D, in combination with the cylinder A,substantially as and for the purposes specified. 3. The shaft E, incombination with two or more plates, F and G, substantially asspecified. 4. The combination and arrangement of the shaft E, collar H,cone G', and mouth O, or end of pipe C, substantially as described.

5. The pipe L, when attached to the pipe D, substantially as and for thepurposes described. 6. The tub B, pipe C, and cylinder A, in combinationwith the pipe D, substantially as specified.

WILLARD M. FULLER.

Witnesses:

E. A. WEST, JOHN A. YALE.

